226 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



is found wild in these sections, nor is it cultivated in less 

 than five hours by rail from Smyrna. No opium is 

 produced in the immediate vicinity of Smyrna. 



The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, blooms in 

 April and May. Its color varies from a light pink to a 

 purplish pink. The specimen in full bloom photo- 

 graphed by me May 3, 1906, measured five inches in 

 diameter, and was of a pronounced, narcotic odor. 

 This is a typical poppy blossom, grown in its home 

 land. The capsule, at this stage, is half an inch in 

 diameter. 



CULTIVATION. The soil that profitably produces 

 opium is a somewhat silicious clay. The preferable 

 locations are rich, valley lands, plains not too wet, and 

 the foot-slopes of the mountains. The plant thrives at 

 various altitudes, even high mountain table-lands and 

 mountain valleys proving admirably suited to its 

 growth. 



The soil is roughly ploughed in the early fall, and it 

 is essential that it be abundantly enriched with barn- 

 yard manure. In October, if it be possible at that time 

 to get the ground in condition, the seed are sown broad- 

 cast over the well-smoothed field. Before sowing, the 

 seed are mixed with sand, as is the method with grass 

 and other small seed. About thirteen ounces of seed 

 are allowed to the acre. The seeds are taken from the 

 poppy capsules of the previous year, and range in color 

 from bluish to yellow and white, the bluish color being 

 preferred. 



Germination results in accordance with the altitude 

 and the moisture of the season. In about thirty days 

 the plants are an inch high. November to December, 

 snow falls in the opium section, covering the plants. 



